Palm Desert Police Use Truancy Sweep To Catch Students Skipping Class

More than a dozen students and their parents are in hot water after a truancy sweep Friday in Palm Desert.

The sweep aimed to discourage kids from ditching class.

Police officers and sheriff’s deputies found 14 truant students — including 12 in one apartment alone — as they were having a midday party without any adult supervision.

Another student was found walking in a wash near Palm Desert High School carrying a full bottle of vodka.

Authorities took the students back to their school for disciplinary action.

Officer Kevin Cole, a school resource officer at Palm Desert High School, says some students skip school for weeks at a time.

“They start getting behind in their credits and it gets to the point where they’re so far behind they’re not understanding what’s going on in class and they start to give up and they stop attending school on a regular basis. They get so far behind they just finally end up dropping out,” said Officer Cole.

Studies show students who skip class and drop out are much more likely to become involved with crime and drugs.